Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;charumbla&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  cultivar is provided that is a whole plant mutation of the ‘Chamanda’ cultivar (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/114,954, filed Apr. 4, 2002). The natural flowering time is mid-October. Attractive blossoms are formed in clusters that display white ray florets and yellow disc florets. The growth habit of the plant is rather dense, stocky, and semi-erect. Decorative medium green foliage is formed. The plant displays good culture regularity and grows well in pots.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Chrysanthemum mortifolium/Decorative Pot Chrysanthemum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Charumbla’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum mortifolium, andhereafter is referred to by the cultivar name ‘Charumbla’.

The new cultivar was discovered during 1999 at Nuaillé, France, whilepresent in a cultivated area where plants of the ‘Chamanda’ cultivar(U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/114,954, filed Apr. 4,2002—now abandoned) were being grown. The new cultivar is believed to bea natural whole plant mutation of the ‘Chamanda’ cultivar of unknowncausation. I was initially attracted to the new cultivar primarilybecause of its distinctive flower coloration. Had the new cultivar notbeen discovered and preserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Chrysanthemum cultivar of the presentinvention displays:

(a) a rather dense, stocky, and semi-erect growth habit,

(b) forms attractive flowers that display white ray florets and yellowdisc florets,

(c) forms decorative medium green foliage, and

(d) displays good culture regularity and grows well in pots.

The new cultivar can be grown singly or in clumps in pots. It also canbe grown in the landscape. The white and yellow blossoms blend nicelywith the medium green foliage. Pinching is helpful to further enhancebranching and produces a large number of shoots. The natural floweringtime is mid-October.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by the rooting of cuttings asperformed at Nuaillè, France, in a controlled environment hasdemonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualpropagation. The new cultivar reproduces true to type from onegeneration to another by such asexual reproduction.

The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from the ‘Chamanda’parental cultivar. More specifically, the ‘Chamanda’ cultivar formsflowers of light rose and cherry red and the new cultivar formsdissimilar flowers of white and yellow.

The new cultivar also can be readily distinguished from otherwhite-flowered Chrysanthemum cultivars such as ‘Chasky’ (U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 10/117,094, filed Apr. 8, 2002—nowabandoned) and ‘Chaclair’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.10/118,428, filed Apr. 9, 2002—now abandoned). More specifically, the‘Chasky’ cultivar displays considerably smaller flowers having adiameter of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm which commonly include onlyapproximately 3 to 4 rows of ray florets and disc florets that fade towhite. The ‘Chaclair’ cultivar displays larger flowers having a diameterof approximately 9 to 11 cm which commonly include more than 25 rows ofdisc florets and no disc florets. The new cultivar commonly displays aflower diameter of approximately 7 to 8 cm and approximately 8 to 10rows of ray florets. Also, the ‘Chasky’ and ‘Chaclair’ cultivarscommonly display a leaf apex that is mucronate. This can be compared toa leaf apex that is acuminate for the new cultivar.

The ‘Charumbla’ cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such astemperature, light, day length, contact with pesticides and/orsubjection to grown regulation treatments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying FIG. 1 depicts typical blossoms and foliage of a plantof ‘Charumbla’ cultivar while growing in a pot in a greenhouse atNuaillè, France. The attractive white blossoms having a yellow centerare illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The plants described were approximately three months of age and werebeing grown in pots in a greenhouse at Nuaillè, France. No growthregulation was used. The growing conditions approximate those commonlyutilized for the commercial production of decorative pot mums. Colorinformation is provided by reference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of theRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Rather dense, stocky and semi-erect growth habit. The plant heightcommonly is approximately 30 to 35 cm on average and the plant widthcommonly is approximately 20 to 25 cm on average. The branches commonlymeasure approximately 25 to 30 cm in length on average, andapproximately 0.8 to 1.1 cm in diameter on average. The branchcoloration commonly is near Yellow-Green Group 146A and 146B.

FOLIAGE:

The leaves commonly are approximately 5 to 7 cm in length on average andapproximately 2.5 to 3 cm in width on average. Each leaf possesses roughserration and commonly consists of five lobes. The inferior lobessometimes are absent and thereby yield leaves of only three or fourlobes. The leaf base commonly is asymmetrical and the leaf apex commonlyis acuminate. The leaf texture is fleshy, and the sinus between thelateral lobes is rounded. There commonly are approximately 20 to 25leaves per stem. The upper leaf surface is medium green (near GreenGroup 137A) and the under leaf surface is lighter and Green Group 137Cin coloration. The petiole commonly is near Green Group 137C incoloration, possesses a smooth texture, is approximately 0.8 to 1.8 cmin length on average, and is approximately 0.3 to 0.5 cm in diameter onaverage.

FLOWERS:

White blossoms with a yellow center are formed in clusters. Commonlyapproximately 6 to 9 flowers per stem are formed on average. The budsare rounded and commonly possess a length of approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cmon average, a diameter of approximately 0.8 to 1 cm on average and arenear Green-Yellow Group 1D in coloration. The flowers possess nofragrance. The disc florets generally are erect, possess a tubular base,are approximately 0.3 to 0.5 cm in length on average, are approximately0.1 to 0.2 cm in width on average, commonly number less than 15, andcommonly are Yellow Group 4C on the upper surface and near Green-YellowGroup 1D on the under surface. The ray florets are present inapproximately eight to ten rows, are incurved, possess a smooth surfacetexture, possess a pointed apex, are approximately 2 to 4 cm in lengthon average, are approximately 0.6 to 1 cm in width on average, commonlynumber between approximately 200 to 250 on average, and commonly arenear White Group 155D in coloration on both surfaces. The flowerdiameter when mature commonly ranges from approximately 7 to 8 cm onaverage. The peduncle possesses a smooth surface texture, a length ofapproximately 3 to 5 cm on average, a diameter of approximately 0.3 to0.5 cm on average, and commonly is near Green Group 141B in coloration.The receptacle possesses a flat-cupola shape, a length of approximately0.6 to 0.8 cm on average, a diameter of approximately 0.8 to 1 cm onaverage, and commonly is near Green Group 141A in coloration. Thereproductive parts are present among both the disc and ray florets.However, the stigma, styles, filaments, and anthers are so small andslim that it is not possible to determine their coloration and toprovide additional characterization using standard evaluationtechniques. No pollen or seeds have been observed.

FLOWER TIME:

The natural flowering time is mid-October. The duration of the bloomingis approximately three weeks. The flowers commonly last approximately 2to 3 weeks on average on the plant and such longevity commonly isinfluenced by the environmental condition that are encountered. Theblossoms become more white with age and may even assume a very slightpinkish hue with extreme age.

USAGE:

Decorative pot mum. No particular susceptibility to diseases and pestshas been observed during the growing of the new cultivar to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant that displays: (a)a rather dense, stocky, and semi-erect growth habit, (b) formsattractive flowers that display white ray florets and yellow discflorets, (c) forms decorative medium green foliage, and (d) displaysgood culture regularity and grows well in pots; substantially asillustrated and described.